Hoyer Taps Matheson to Join Whip Team

Incoming Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced Thursday that he has tapped Rep. Jim Matheson, a leader of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, to join his Whip team in the next Congress.

The Utah Democrat will take the Chief Deputy Whip job left open by the retirement of fellow Blue Dog Rep. John Tanner (Tenn.).

Matheson is the only new face for the Whip operation in the 112th Congress; Hoyer announced that he wasn’t making any other changes.

“This whip team has done a remarkable job keeping Democrats unified on the numerous challenges this Congress has addressed,” Hoyer said in a statement. “Jim Matheson will be a tremendous addition to my team, bringing a moderate voice to the table. His perspective reflects what we heard from Americans last month, when they clearly called for us to work to find common ground to move our country forward.”